Naso, a successful clothing manufacturer for 40 years, had sold his company, Osan Manufacturing, Boyertown, in July 2001.

"What had happened when Sept. 11 hit was that retailers began looking for anyone to make flags," Naso said. "I quickly learned that I was not the retiring type. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing."

By late September 2001, Naso, along with his wife, Geraldine, started Colebrook Enterprises Ltd., Colebrookdale Township, to help meet the demand for flags.

"I knew quality when it came to sewing," he said. "And flags are much easier to sew than men's clothing; you don't have to worry about the fit."

In that first year in business, Naso produced between 4,000 and 5,000 flags.

The three main distributors of Naso's flags also are three of the largest retailers: Wal-Mart, Lowe's and The Home Depot.

Naso said he had no idea the business would grow they way it did.

"Coming out of the clothing business, doing this was a blessing," Naso said. "The only competition are about a dozen other United States flag manufacturers."

And unlike almost every other manufacturing industry, there is no competition from overseas factories.

"By an act of Congress several years ago, American flags must be made in the United States," Naso explained.

After Naso began the business, he said, he worked with the late Rev. Charles A. Marciano of St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Reading to offer employment opportunities to members of the Latino community.

"When I was in business making men's clothing, most of my employees were Pennsylvania Dutch," Naso said. "Now I have mostly Hispanic workers, but just like the Pennsylvania Dutch, they have good work ethics and are hard workers."

Naso pays his employees by piecework.

"That means my employees are basically in business for themselves," Naso explained. "The more they produce, the more money they make."

Naso said that within the next year, he will have to move to a new location because he is out of space. Naso said he has to at least double his manufacturing space of 15,000 square feet.

That could end up being good news for the city of Reading.

Naso said city officials are trying to coax him to move his operation to Reading.

And Naso is receptive to the idea.

"I'm seriously considering moving the company to Reading," he said. "It would be so much more convenient for my labor force, who mostly now commute from Reading. Plus, the city is offering attractive benefits to businesses that will come into the city."

For now, there is no retirement in Naso's future.

"This is the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and we are being bombarded with orders to get as many flags as possible in the stores by July 4th," he said.